Just curiosity here: I had my stem cell transplant (SCT) in October 2013, and was scheduled to have my childhood immunizations repeated the following year.
I asked to have blood tests, though, to see if I still had antibodies to measles, mumps, and polio.
When I was a child, I came close to dying of the 'red' measles, and mumps wasn't any fun either. My cousin had polio (and during her infectious period, we slept in the same room) so I had both sets of polio immunizations, shots and 'sugar cubes.'
My blood tests for these things came back as...yep, still immune.
So I wonder; what sort of studies have been done to find out what happens with an SCT and immunizations? Does it make a difference whether the immunity comes from a vaccination or having actually had the disease? Why do some people's systems lose immunity, and others keep it?
Mine kept it. Why? And why do others lose it?
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Immunizations post SCT
Dianalad, the whole topic of vaccinations and immunity really interests me also! Here is an abstract from the Lancet, a scholarly medical journal, from 1985, about the diphtheria vaccine. Note that the titres remaining in an adult's blood from a childhood vaccination may not be sufficient for immunity against the disease. They say that there is a continued decline in anti-toxin levels over time.
Other vaccinations that we patients may now receive are the annual flu shot and the pneumoccal vaccine. The trouble is that as immune compromised patients the vaccines may not be able to get a response from our immune system. I think it is worth a try though to get the immunity!
The Lancet
Volume 325, Issue 8434, 20 April 1985, Pages 900–902
Originally published as Volume 1, Issue 8434
Cover image
IMMUNITY AGAINST DIPHTHERIA 25-30 YEARS AFTER PRIMARY VACCINATION IN CHILDHOOD
K Kjeldsen, O Simonsen, I Heron
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doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(85)91675-7
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Abstract
In Denmark primary vaccination against diphtheria is offered in the 5th, 6th, and 15th month of life with doses of 50 Lf. Only those doing military service are routinely revaccinated (with 121/2 Lf, given once). 403 persons offered primary vaccination 25-30 years ago were screened for diphtheria antitoxin titres by the use of neutralisation and haemagglutination tests. 19% of these (10% of the males and 26% of the females) were unprotected (<0·01 IU/ml). Among those not revaccinated 22% had antitoxin titres below protective level. This accords with the continuing decline of diphtheria antitoxin titre after vaccination. Among those revaccinated against diphtheria in adolescence 5% became unprotected. Thus, persons who were offered primary vaccination against diphtheria 25-30 years ago may be susceptible to diphtheria and its toxic complications. So may those revaccinated more than 10 years ago. Should diphtheria emerge in a community those who received their primary vaccination more than 2 years ago or revaccination more than 10 years ago ought to be revaccinated. Revaccination is also advisable for those travelling to countries with endemic diphtheria. Moreover, since 10% of the present population were unprotected against tetanus it seems advisable to increase the immunity against diphtheria and tetanus by routine revaccination with a combined diphtheria-tetanus vaccine. Only a documented history of vaccinations should be relied on when a decision is being made as to whether to carry out primary vaccination or revaccination.
Copyright © 1985 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Other vaccinations that we patients may now receive are the annual flu shot and the pneumoccal vaccine. The trouble is that as immune compromised patients the vaccines may not be able to get a response from our immune system. I think it is worth a try though to get the immunity!
The Lancet
Volume 325, Issue 8434, 20 April 1985, Pages 900–902
Originally published as Volume 1, Issue 8434
Cover image
IMMUNITY AGAINST DIPHTHERIA 25-30 YEARS AFTER PRIMARY VACCINATION IN CHILDHOOD
K Kjeldsen, O Simonsen, I Heron
Show more
Choose an option to locate/access this article:
Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution
Check access
Purchase $35.95
doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(85)91675-7
Get rights and content
Abstract
In Denmark primary vaccination against diphtheria is offered in the 5th, 6th, and 15th month of life with doses of 50 Lf. Only those doing military service are routinely revaccinated (with 121/2 Lf, given once). 403 persons offered primary vaccination 25-30 years ago were screened for diphtheria antitoxin titres by the use of neutralisation and haemagglutination tests. 19% of these (10% of the males and 26% of the females) were unprotected (<0·01 IU/ml). Among those not revaccinated 22% had antitoxin titres below protective level. This accords with the continuing decline of diphtheria antitoxin titre after vaccination. Among those revaccinated against diphtheria in adolescence 5% became unprotected. Thus, persons who were offered primary vaccination against diphtheria 25-30 years ago may be susceptible to diphtheria and its toxic complications. So may those revaccinated more than 10 years ago. Should diphtheria emerge in a community those who received their primary vaccination more than 2 years ago or revaccination more than 10 years ago ought to be revaccinated. Revaccination is also advisable for those travelling to countries with endemic diphtheria. Moreover, since 10% of the present population were unprotected against tetanus it seems advisable to increase the immunity against diphtheria and tetanus by routine revaccination with a combined diphtheria-tetanus vaccine. Only a documented history of vaccinations should be relied on when a decision is being made as to whether to carry out primary vaccination or revaccination.
Copyright © 1985 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Immunizations post SCT
Hi Dianaiad,
Like you, I had a rough case of measles when I was a kid. A recent titre showed I still had measles immunity, following my SCT in 2013. I also have immunity to mumps, which I also had as a kid. Despite that, my oncologist decided it would be prudent to re-vaccinate me with the MMR vaccine. I got my first MMR shot this past week.
Mike
Like you, I had a rough case of measles when I was a kid. A recent titre showed I still had measles immunity, following my SCT in 2013. I also have immunity to mumps, which I also had as a kid. Despite that, my oncologist decided it would be prudent to re-vaccinate me with the MMR vaccine. I got my first MMR shot this past week.
Mike
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Immunizations post SCT
remind me about the MMR vaccine: it is a live vaccine but it is ok two years post-transplant?
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Immunizations post SCT
Good morning! I looked up my 'adult immunization card' from Alberta Health Services and saw that I had MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and varicella (chickenpox) vaccinations starting two years after transplant (Jan. 2012). I had a 'booster' for each vaccine also. Those are 'live' vaccines. I had the other vaccines starting Jan. 2011.
I was being treated by the public health clinic, but also needed to get permission from my oncologist (i.e. through the bone marrow transplant clinic). Because at that time I was in a CR (complete remission), and also not taking any chemotherapy, it was probably not a problem to approve that for me. I have not had any titres taken though, and so cannot be sure that the vaccines were effective!
Hope that helps!
I was being treated by the public health clinic, but also needed to get permission from my oncologist (i.e. through the bone marrow transplant clinic). Because at that time I was in a CR (complete remission), and also not taking any chemotherapy, it was probably not a problem to approve that for me. I have not had any titres taken though, and so cannot be sure that the vaccines were effective!
Hope that helps!
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Immunizations post SCT
Hmm, this post is rather timely for me. I have questions regarding when to get vaccinated again.
I am 1 year post transplant. The nurse practitioners with my oncologist's office told me the SCCA (where I received my SCT) said it was time to start immunizations and the live vaccines in 2 years.
I was all set to start this but my oncologist then said not to vaccinate, the reason being because I am doing Velcade maintenance. So maybe the SCCA wasn't considering my post care treatment or my oncologist has a different opinion?
So my question to all if you is: Were any of you doing chemo maintenance when you were re immunized?
Best regards to all,
Kim
I am 1 year post transplant. The nurse practitioners with my oncologist's office told me the SCCA (where I received my SCT) said it was time to start immunizations and the live vaccines in 2 years.
I was all set to start this but my oncologist then said not to vaccinate, the reason being because I am doing Velcade maintenance. So maybe the SCCA wasn't considering my post care treatment or my oncologist has a different opinion?
So my question to all if you is: Were any of you doing chemo maintenance when you were re immunized?
Best regards to all,
Kim
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kjpoppit - Name: Kim Nelson
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Sept. 19th, 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 47
Re: Immunizations post SCT
I was and continue to be on Revlimid when I started my post-transplant immunizations. They began about 7 months after the transplant. So far none are the live vaccines. The current round are to be completed in August.
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
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